Manufacture of horseshoes



2 Sheets-Shet 1.

(No Model.)

0. J. LE ROY.

MANUFACTURE OF HORSESHOES. No. 392,276. Patented Nov. 6, 1888...

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. J. LE ROY.

MANUFACTURE 0F HORSESH-OBS.

(No Model.)

exited Nov. 6, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J. LE ROY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO AMOS O. BABOOOK, OF CANTON, ILLINOIS.

MANUFACTURE OF HORSESH'OES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,276, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed March .39, 1888, Serial No. 268,732. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. Ln BOY, a resident of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Horseshoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof. My invention relates to the manufacture of horseshoes, its object being to form a steel horseshoein which the toe-calk and heel-calks are integral with the body of the shoe, and to provide arapid and cheap method of forming the same. v g

It is well known that in the ordinary way of making horseshoes the body of the shoe is rolled from a bar of metal and the toecalk is secured thereto after the shoe is brought to shape, while the heel-calksare generally formed by bending down the metal, thus forming a calk of only the same thickness as the thickness of the shoe, while it is desirable to form a shoe-calk which is of greater thickness or face than can be obtained in bending down the metal. By myinvention I am enabled to form the toe-call: and heel-calks on the blank before it is bent to shape and subsequently in forming the shoe from the blank to produce the shoe with a more desirable form of heel-calks and with a toe-calk integral with the body of the shoe, so overcoming the labor and cost of securing the toe-calk to the shoe and bending down the body of the shoe to form the heelcalks. I

To these ends my invention consists, essentially, in first casting the blank or bar having therein the toe-calk and heel-calks, and then bending and swaging the blank so obtained to form the finished shoe.

It also consists in other improvements, as hereinafter more fully-set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to practice my invention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figures 1 and 2 are views of molds proper for casting the shoe. Fig. 3 is a view of a blank obtained inthe mold. Fig. 4 is a bot tom view of the same. Fig. 5 illustrates the method of bending the blank to bring it to the shape of the shoe. Fig. 6 is a crosssec- Fig. 7 presents tion on the line 00 m, Fig. 5.

the method of swaging the blank to bring it to finished form, and Fig. 8 shows the finished horseshoe.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

In casting my improvedhorseshoe-blank I form it of cast-steel in a chill-mold, either forming it as shown in Fig. 1, in which there is a runner, a, from which feeders I) lead off to the molds c, or I form it as shown in Fig. 2, in which the metal flows by means of the ordinary pouring-gate, a' to the center of the shoeblank, communicating with the recess in the mold forming the toe-calk, and the metal flowing therefrom to each end of the mold, and

connect each mold by means of a runner, b,.

leading from the center of the mold to the face of the mold, the metal thus flowing into each mold and rising through the runners b to the molds above, so filling the different molds arranged in the series.

The mold c is provided with a central recess, (2, forming the toe-calk d, and a recess, e, opposite the same, forming the clip 6 on the upper surface of the blank, and at either end there is the recess f, forming the heel-calk f 0f the finished mold, while extending up from the mold-cavity forming the body 9 of the blank is the projection h, forming the nail-recess h of the finished blank. The mold also corresponds in shape in the body thereof to the desired shape in the blank, the inner face of which is curved or beveled, as at g, and in order topreventthe toe-calk from entering a slot-such as the ordinary slot in the road-beds between which the grips of the ordinary traction or like car passes-I provide the blank with a lug, t", which is formed in the recessi of the chill-mold. The blanks are cast, as above set forth, in these chilled molds, the blank formed therein having the clip e on the upper surface at the center of the blank, the nail-grooves h, the toe-calk d, and the heel-calks f, the blanks thus formed being practically the same as the finished shoe, except for bending and punching. In order to bend the blank to the finished shape, any suitable apparatus may be employed, that shown in the drawings being composed of a former corresponding to the interior of the shoe when bent and two rolls adapted to press against the blank and bend it around this former. In such apparatus the former 7s,iitting within the shoe, corresponds in shape to the interior of the blank, having a recess, it, at the forward end, into which the lug t" on the shoe fits, so holding the shoe in proper line, and having also the lip Z, which extends over the beveled lower face of the shoe, and so holds it down onto the base or bed in of the forming apparatus, the former also having at the rear end thereof the recesses 2, into which the heel-cal ks of the shoe are forced during the bending operation.

The former 7: is so constructed that it can be lifted up from the bed after the forming operation to permit the withdrawal of the shoe. .lhe bed on is an ordinary flat surface, having at the forward end thereof a recess, in, into which the clip 0 of the shoe enters during the forming operation. The bending-wheels n are mounted in suitable arms, a, which are operated by any suitable apparatuswhieh it is not considered necessary to show in this case, but which will be shown in an application, the apparatus abovcdescribed forming the subject of a separate application, and they are adapted to press against the bar and force it against and around the former, causing it to conform in .shape thereto. These bendingwhcels n are also preferably provided with a flange, a, at the upper surfaeqwhich extends over the blank during the bending operation and holds it down upon the bed m, the blank being thus confined during the bending operation by the lips Z on the former I; and the flanges a on the bem'liugavhecls.

During the bending operation the blank is placed in front of the bending-wheels n, the clip 0 entering the recess in in the bed in and the lug i7 entering the recess 7; at the forward end of the former is, and the bending-wheels n are then caused to advance and bend each end of the blank around the former, pressing it against the former, and so impart the de sired shape to the horseshoe blank. The blank is thus brought to the shape of the horseshoe, and it is only necessary, in order to finish the blank, to swage it to shape, so imparting the desired shape to the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and to punch the nailholcs therein. This is accomplished by means of swaging-dics, as shown in Fig. 7. These dies are formed of the upper die, p, and the lower die or anvil, 1-, the face on the upper die corresponding to the upper face of the finished shoe, and having the recess therein, in which the toe-clip e enters.

In the anvil r is formed a recess correspond ing to that of the finished shoe, having the reccsscs r for the toe-call; and r" for the heelcalk of the shoe, and the projections s, correspouding to the nail-grooves h of the shoe, to maintain this groove during the forging operation. Extending up through the matrix in the anvil and in line with the projections s therein are the nail-pnnches Z. These punches 1 are formed of hardened steel and extend up so that they will punch entirely through the shoe or be forced almost through the body of the shoe, lcavingathin skim or skin,which can be punched out by the blacksmith when 7c fitting the shoe to the foot. In the former case short recesses are formed in place of the hammer-die p, to receive the ends of the punches or the metal cut out thereby. The punches lextend up through the anvil, and are supported by aseparate apparatus mounted below the anvil, so that they can be with drawn after the punching operation; or, if de sired, they may be made stationary with the anvil,thcshoebody bci ng forced outoflhe mat- 8o rix thereof before the metal. can shrink upon the nail-punches, or the naitpunchcs being so tapered as to relieve themselves after the forging of the finished shoe. Suitable means may also be provided for forcing the shoe out of the 84 matrix of the anvil, such means being shown in the drawings, and consisting of pins or blocks a, extending up through the anviland pressing against the toe-call: and hecl-calks of the blank, and acting after the forging of the blank to raise the shoe out of the matrix, so that it can be removed therefrom. The forging apparatus may be mounted in any suit- Y able machine and the punches t and the blocks 1/ be operated by any suitable means. 9 5

In practicing my inventionthe blanks a c formed of any suitable cast-stcclsuch as crucible east-steel, open-hearth steel, or Bessemer steel and the chill-molds, which are made partiblc,aud in which the parts of the mold are separated in any suitable way, are arranged ready for the casting. The molten steel is poured into the molds, entering through the pouringgatcs thereof and passing into the different mold series and entirely filling the cavities thercof,so forming the finished blanks. Immediate] y after the casting the blanks are removed and separated, and, as preferred by me, are placed in a suitable soaking-pit, so as to maintain the heat therein and remove any chilled surface on the blanks; or else the blanks may be permitted to cool and be subsequently reheated for the bending operation. The blanks, when at a proper hcat,are placed in the bending apparatus, the toe-call: being placed in contact with the former is, and the clips 0 entering the seat or recess in in the bed, and then the bendingrolls a are advanced and press the blank against and around the former, so bringing it to the desired shape. The rolls are then withdrawn, the bending apparatus opened, and the bent horseshoe-blank is then inverted and placed upon the anvil of the swaging apparatus, the toecalk d entering the re ccss r thercof,and the heel-calks f entering the recesses 1', while the body of the blank enters the body of the matrix of the anvil. The barn uail-holcs therein.

placed and, where they are movable, the punches withdrawn and the blank drawn out of the anvil, where they are removed, when the finished shoe may be withdrawn from the apparatus.

In this way I am enabled to form a finished horseshoe having the toe-calk integral therewith and having the heel-calks extending along the base of the blank, so that a longitudinally extending heel calk of greater strength and'greater wearingface than an or-v dinary heel-calk may be obtained. As both the toe-call; and heel-calks are formed integral with the blank, the labor of the blacksmith in preparing the shoe for use is materially reduced, and there is no liability of the toe-calk being broken from the body of the shoe, as frequentl y occurs wherea steel toe-calk is welded to the shoe and the weld formed is imperfect. I. am also enabled to form the horseshoe at less expense than in the ordinary manner of forming shoes, as the entire rolling operation is done away with, and the metal is brought from its molten condition to the shape of the blank ready for bending at one operation, the cost of forming these shoes being materially reduced in this manner. I

The apparatus for the manufacture of these shoes has only been generally described, as it will form the subject of other applications.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improvement in the manufacture of horseshoes herein described, consisting in first casting a blank having the toecalk and heelcalks thereon,and then bending the blank to the desired shape, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The herein-described improvelnentin the manufacture of horeshoes, consisting in casting the blank with the toe-call: and heelcalks thereon, bending the blank to the desired shape,and then swaging the bent blank to finish it, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The herein-described improvementin the manufacture of horseshoes, consisting in casting the blank with the toeealk and heel-calks thereon, bending the blank to the desired shape, and swaging the blank and punching the nail-holes therein, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said CHARLES J. LE ROY, have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES J. LE ROY.

Witnesses:

J. N. Goonn, R0131". D. TOTTEN. 

